Fishing on Stangate or Sharfleet

[MagicalArmchair]

My boy (10) wants to fish, and we do have a rod and reel on board. What setup would I need to catch some poor, unsuspecting denizen of the deep in Stangate?

Currently in the rather sorry-looking fishing bag are two weights, some mackerel feathers, and nothing much besides!

The stipulation is he doesn't want to murder lug worms as bait (or anything else for that matter, so non live bait), and refuses to eat the fish as killing it would just be too mean (yet he will eat his tuna sandwiches just fine...).

 

[xyachtdave]

Locally I’ve tried lure fishing in all states of tide, light conditions, depth, different times of year and never had a single thing.

I used to Pike fish as kid quite successfully with lures so quite happy casting for a few hours, even without success.

The worm baits that are off limits to you are the ones that’ll lure a small bass etc fairly easily.

You could try frozen squid, it’s already dead after all…but other than crabs, not had anything with this either.

My own daughter aged about 7 went from ‘Don’t hurt it Daddy!’ to ‘Can we eat it?’ quite quickly when our first Whiting was caught!

We put them all back after taking a couple of fish selfies.

 

[oldgit]

We use salted or dried lug to over come this problem.
As time goes on became less and less enamoured with the practice of using live bait.
Have caught few Bass right round the corner in Sharfleet. You can come out the other end .

If flood tide up to here on the beacon, about 6 feet of water .Keep to port of beacon.
3ft for my boat and 3ft for my props.
Have had more luck fishing in the West end of Yantlet between Darnett Fort and Nor Marsh.
Anchor mid channel near the can.
Go in as soon as sufficient water over Yantlet Spit if coming down river.
Local boaters will instantly reconise the weather as being normal for the Medway.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Thanks both, what setup do you use?

A float on the top? Followed by a weight, followed by the hook with the dried lug? What length of line between the float and hook? Or how far about the mud should it be? Something like this?? Tronixpro Float Kit

I think if we DID catch something, that would cause more problems than if we didn't to be honest! I think the boy is more interested in the process of fishing than actually catching any......

And what about these for bait??: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pets-Purest-Natural-Sprats-Air-Dried/dp/B087YKMF8L/

 

[xyachtdave]

I’m no expert on sea fishing, I was seen off in a tackle shop in Brightlingsea, multiplier reel, 100lb line, shark spec boat rod and hooks the size of your hand…

I did question the size but was assured this was what was required.

I caught absolutely nothing until I ditched my new set up and retrieved one of my 30 year old Mitchell fixed spool reels, some, 12lb line, 3lb test curve pike rod from my Dad’s garage and bought a couple of 2 hook flapper ledger rigs.

4 X Two hook clip down sea fishing rig made with No#4 Aberdeen hook's | eBay

Ledgering, with the tide lifting the bait off the bottom, you can buy them pre made for a couple of quid.

 

[oldgit]

Ledgering, with the tide lifting the bait off the bottom, you can buy them pre made for a couple of quid[

100%

 

[Daydream believer]

Join a days sea fishing trip on a boat. They will show you what to do & supply the kit if you arrange a learners day. Might actually catch some fish which will add to the experience.
Only problem will be that it is a long day & you need to know that your son can last Ok, Perhaps take a friend & one for you as well . Make a small party up

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Thanks, so a set up like this?



Or do away with my float entirely:

 

[oldgit]

standard leger rig..............dump the float !

 

[Antony Collis]

The best thing for catching in Stangate is a crab net like you'd see down the beach....

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Thank you for all the input. We had a grand time... didn't CATCH anything of course, apart from this little starfish dude.

We will continue to try at our future expeditions and revert back!

 

[Nauti Fox]

3 boats in Sharfleet, versus the fish, the fish won...(That was several years ago, the fish might be more compliant now....)

 

[xyachtdave]

Thank you for all the input. We had a grand time... didn't CATCH anything of course, apart from this little starfish dude.

We will continue to try at our future expeditions and revert back!

I’d go about a 1/4 of the size of those hooks. They’re the ones I started with…Tuna, Blue Marlin etc standard!

 

[Nauti Fox]

Another failed expedition......

 

[oldgit]

Another failed expedition......

Blimey that was a while ago. Think you can see HMS Victory going past in the back ground on her way to Trafalgar.
Still at least the smoke from those STINKY old Detroits appears to have finally cleared and you can see the shore.

 

[Nauti Fox]

Blimey that was a while ago. Think you can see HMS Victory going past in the back ground on her way to Trafalgar.
Still at least the smoke from those STINKY old Detroits appears to have finally cleared and you can see the shore.

Detroits........?

 

[oldgit]

Detroits........?

Ooo wash my mouth out,..............non specific two stroke diesels

 

[Nauti Fox]

With your pin sharp memory you've got it wrong again.
GMC Toro Flow 11.4 litre V8 4 stroke diesels......

 

[Cotillion]

Large frozen peeled prawns. Set up on a paternoster rig (attach a 3ft hook length 18ins above the weight) drop it over the side. Bait will flutter in the tide. Bass love em.